Private sector vacancies at 3-year low

THE number of private sector firms reporting vacancies last month hit the lowest level inalmost three years.

The decrease in vacancies was driven by a decline in the construction and services sectors — with vacancies in these sectors falling to 8% and 10% respectively.

The latest FAS/ESRI employment and vacancies survey found there was a two percentage point decline in vacancies in the private sector in February to 10% from 12% a year earlier, which is the lowest the economy-wide vacancy rate has been since August 2005.